People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1896 — DEBATE ON PENSIONS. [ARTICLE]

DEBATE ON PENSIONS.

VETERANS CHAMPIONED IN THE HOUSE. Notable Speeches Made—Senate Dircaaaaa the Same Subject—Mr. Lodge Wants •100,000,000 Bond Issue to Provide Coast Defenses. Washington, Jan. 15.—The House spent Tuesday in further debate upon the pension appropriation bill. Among the speakers was General John A. Walker, who served with distinction in the Confederate army from Manassas to Appomattox. He is the only republican representative'from Virginia. Mr. Cummings (dem., N. Y.) created a mild sensation by a severe arraignment of the pension office for hostility to the pld soldiers, and a stirring repudiation of the speech made Monday by Mr. Bartlett, who is one Of the Tammany Congressmen from New York/lt seems probable now that the general debate on the pension bill will continue for several days. The bond silver bill was further considered in the Senate, but without appreciable approach to a conclusion of the debate. Mr. Butler of North Carolina spoke for two hours in opposition to bond issues, and in favor of silver legislation. Mr. Mills offered a resolution declaratory of the policy of the government against issuing bonds, favoring the speedy extinction of the national debt, and for the coinage of the silver bullion in the treasury. The House took up the pension appropriation bill immediately on convening, and Mr. Northway (rep., Ohio) replied to the criticisms offered by Mr. Bartlett (dem., N. Y.). The veteran, he said, should not be placed in the position of a mendicant. The spirit in which the pension laws were now being administered was manifestly unfriendly to the soldier. A soldier’s widow should not’ be obliged to stand shivering and starving at the door of the pension office In order to obtain a pension, and the pensions committee therefore had reported an amendment to the present law requiring that as a condition precedent to -receiving a pension she should prove that her net income did not exceed SSOO. Mr. Hemenway (Rep., Ind.) favored the adoption of the Graff amendment prohibiting the suspension of pensions until fraud had been proved. Mr. Arnold (Rep., Pa.), in criticising the pension office; denounced part*cut»rty*)tiltr7Jfsßbtice of calling on Democratic postmasters to furnish information as to alleged fraudulent pensions. A speech by Mr. Walker (Rep., Va.) attracted more than usual attention. Mr. Walker was a general in the Confederate army on the staff of General Jubal Early. He declared there was a misapprehension of the feeling and of the sentiment of the southern people and the southern soldiers toward pensions for the men who fought for the Union. There was no sentiment against the pension policy of the government in the south, and he assured his friends in the north that the fortunes and pensions of the Union soldiers would be safe in the hands of the soldiers of the south. His remarks elicited applause from both sides of the house.

Mr. Wood (Rep., Ill.), Mr. Fitzpatrick (Rep., Kan.), and Mr. Poole (Rep., N. Y.) followed, and then Mr. Cummings (Dem., N. Y.) created the sensation of the day by a short but bitter arraignment of the pension office and an eloquent repudiation of the sentiments expressed by his colleague, Mr. Bartlett. He declared that it was time some radical action was taken to call a halt on the pension office. At the conclusion of Mr. Cummings’ speech the committee rose, and after some minor business the house at 4:25 o’clock adjourned until to-day. The bill granting a pension of $75 monthly to the widow of the late Brigadier General Cogswell, a representative. in congress from Massachusetts at the time of his death, caused a long debate in the senate Tuesday. Mr. Allen (Pop., Kan.) opposed discriminations, saying: “I want to go on record as opposed to any distinction between the yridow of the private soldier and that of brigadier generals, major generals, or any other generals.” Mr. Thurston (Rep., Neb.) made his maiden speech in the senate .in support of liberal pensions, and eloquently portrayed the services of his deceased father as a plain soldier. He urged that the war heroes have the amplest pensiorfs. This bill (the Cogswell) instead of having its allowance /educed, should serve to advance the allowance of all who served in the war. Mr. Vilas said the senate would certainly show full justice in granting pensions, but he pointed out that certain peculiar influences prevailed, resulting in discriminations in pensions to widows of officers, whidh bore severely on the old soldiers, and they felt it. The suggestion of “peculiar influences” was hotly resented by Mr. Lodge. A motion by Mr. Allen to reduce the allowance to SSO was not agreed to—23 to 36 —the democrats, with some exceptions, supporting the motion, and all the republicans voting against it. The bill was then passed Without division. z A new phase of the financial question was presented by Mr. Mills in the form

oi a resolution giving seven declaration* of policy, substantially as follows: 1. Against the retirement of outstanding legal tender notes. 2. Favoring the coinage of the silver bullion in the treasur^^3. The issuance of emergency legal tender notes in case of a deficiency. 4. Against interest-bear-ing bonds. 5. Establishing a policy of the United States in paying obligations tn both gold and silver. 6. Repudiating the theory that a public debt is a oubHc blessing. 7. Urging the rapid extinguishment of the national debt and the maintenance of the sinking fund therefor. Mr. Mills’ resolution went to the table until today, when he may make some remarks upon it. Tfie bond silver bill was taken up at 2 o’clock and Mr. Butler (Pop., N. C.) offered an amendment prohibiting the issuance of interest-bearing bonds and directing the secretary of the treasury to pay In gold or silver, according to the market value of the coins. Mr. Butler spoke in apposition to bond issues. “J pledge," said he, “six people’s party votes in this chamber to either party that will stop the further issue of bonds, and six notes will give a majority to either side. In fact, either party can have a majority in this body when it desires to pass any law in the interest of the American people.” Mr. Butler closed at 4:25, and the senate held a brief executive session, adjourning at 4:45 until today.

PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL. Representative Shafroth H»l a Plan to Solve the Problem. Washington, Jan. 15. —In the House Tuesday Mr. Shafroth of Colorado introduced a Pacific railroad bill. It contemplates a foreclosure sale of the Union and Central Pacific railroad properties, and, in the event that the title vests in the government, there shall be organized a government railroad company. The company is to be managed by a board of directors appointed by the president, and as soon as organized the property vested in the United States by the foreclosing sale Is to be conveyed to it. The company Is then to delivef to the United States fifty-year 3 per cent bonds to the amount of the total indebtedness of the railroad to the government, secured by a mortgage on all the property, subject only to the bonds secured by first mortgage upon the property in the event the United States has not purchased or paid the same. The stock the new company is to be sold at pubi! e auction-*Bd the amount realized indebtedness to the government, and when the latter is fully paid the stockholders are to organize a new corporation. The government railroad company is then to convey the railroad and properties to it upon the surrender and cancellation of the stock of the old company. FOB FORTIFICATIONS. Senator Lodge Wants a Bond Issue of moo, 000,000. Washington, Jan. 15. —Senator Lodge Tuesday introduced an amendment to the fortifications appropriation bill, authorizing a popular 3 per cent coin bond issue of $100,000,000, the proceeds to be used in providing for the defense of the coast, for the manufacture of guns, and the erection of forts and batteries. The secretary of the navy has sent to the senate a letter in which he says that to equip with guns and machinery and put in first-class condition for purposes of harbor defense all monitors now in commission or undergoing repairs, would cost $1,580,000; in good condition, $495,000. If the department were called upon by a sudden emergency to use these vessels immediately, it would expend, he adds, only the sum needed by the bureau of ordnance, namely, $26,000, and possibly $20,000 for turrets. • - > THE NICARAGUA CANAL. Special Message on This Subject May Be Sent to Congress. Washington, Jan. 15. —The Nicaragua canal schele received some little attention Tuesday from the House committee on interstate and foreign commerce, when Chairman Hepburn designated a subcommittee of seven to have special charge of all proposed legislation for building the canal. Messrs. Sherman (N. Y.), Doolittle (Wash.), Joy (Mo.), Noonan (Texas), Stewart (N. J.), Price (La.), and Bartlett (New York) constitute the subcommittee. The canal advocates ar6 anxious to have President Cleveland forward to Congress at an early day the report made to him by the commission which looked over the ground last summer. It is Intimated that a special message giving President Cleveland’s views upon the canal and transmitting the report will be sent to Congress within a month. 1 House end senate Committee*. Washington, Jan. 15. The House committee on military affairs Tuesday unanimously reported favorably the bill which recently passed the Senate repealing the law that prohibits exConfederates who held commissions in the United States army and navy at the beginning of the rebellion from being appointed to any position in the army or navy. committee on public lands today decided to favorably report a bill introduced by Rep-

resentauve wiison oi iuano to give zo per cent of the proceeds of mineral lands in public land states for u»* tupport of schools of mines. The Senate naval committee decided to take up the investigation of the armor contracts under the Chandler resolution on Saturday next, when Secretary Herbert will meet the committee. The hearings will be private.